I find it disturbing that the 'powers that be' have felt the need to sanitise this thread without reference to the original posts. I agree that posts which are downright rude or disrespectful to the dead probably have no place in an 'RIP' thread but some of the puns on offer were neither rude nor disrespectful. In fact, my own 'It's only words' retort to Dark_Angel's post was meant as a respectful reference to one of Boyzone's more well known records and an attempt to difuse some of the bickering that was building up.
In our nation's society we have a long and highly regarded history of gallows humour and laughing in the face of adversity. The ability to see the lighter side of a tradgedy is something that has seen us, as a nation, ride out Nazi bombing, domestic terrorism, financial meltdown and unfit government. Without it we would risk being reduced to an overly sentimental sobfest of a nation or a whining, "life's so hard being me", victim culture
Brucie was right, we should have a bit more of a sense of humour ove these things and stop taking offence on other people's behalf.
Amen! Some people around here seriously need to lighten up a bit and get a sense of humour!
Perhaps it would be better just to ban RIP threads or give them their own forum.
Who's keith Ledger?
Shame about the boyzone guy but one of them posted in their blog me and the boyz" yes spelt with a Z
rest in peace
Many of the posts removed weren't jokes, they were just gay bashing/relishing in his death or trolling. I like a laugh, but I don't see any need to deliberately offend people for no reason other than homophobia, or because someone needs to raise their own self esteem by lowering someone elses.
All that's needed is for people to have just a modicum of respect for others and avoid making posts with the sole intention of offending people.
Officials dismissed speculation that Gately choked on his own vomit, and said drugs and alcohol were not involved in his death.
You mean he couldn't rest before because people were claiming drug/sex abuse?
I would have thought that it was "unusual" for a fit 33-year old to die of pulmonary oedemaThe Boyzone singer Stephen Gately died of natural causes, a post-mortem examination in Spain has established. An official said he suffered pulmonary oedema, which is an accumulation of fluid on the lungs.
...
The court official said the pulmonary oedema had been "acute". She added that once the witness statements and tests are confirmed then the "case will be closed".
However, she could not say whether Gately had been taking any drugs or alcohol beforehand but either way, they were not the cause of death. Toxicology results are due later. A sample of fluid taken during the post-mortem exam will also be sent to a forensic laboratory in Barcelona for further tests to confirm the result.
She declined to say whether Gately had vomited before his death.
...
"We are not saying he was not drinking but eight hours is not something we accept" [Family lawyer Gerald Kean] said.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/8304419.stm

Its funny how quiet people have gone suddenly now its been proven it was natural causes....maybe he can now rest in peace.
Toxicology results are due later.
now, now weren't you the one saying wait till the results came
Officials dismissed speculation that Gately choked on his own vomit, and said drugs and alcohol were not involved in his death.
I would have thought that it was "unusual" for a fit 33-year old to die of pulmonary oedema![]()
No just that people were claiming he had done things its been confirmed he now hasn't, and he wasn't here to defend himself.